DuPont, Syngenta form joint venture for seed genetics, biotech traits

DuPont and Syngenta today announced in the formation of a joint venture. Syngenta Seeds, Inc., and DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., will form the seed industry's first 50/50 joint venture to out-license genetics to U.S. and Canadian seed companies, with the potential to expand worldwide.

The two companies also agreed to cross-license certain corn and soybean traits that each company will market independently under their own seed brands. The agreement includes rights for Syngenta to market the new Optimum GAT herbicide tolerant trait developed by DuPont. DuPont will receive a global license to Syngenta's insect resistance technology for European corn borer, corn rootworm and broad lepidopteran control as it develops the next generation of insect traits.

"This is outstanding news for growers and the seed industry because it will make available a new and unique pool of corn and soybean traits and genetics from both companies' research efforts. As a result, North American growers will have access to broader product choices and technologies," said Mike Mack, Chief Operating Officer of Syngenta Seeds.

The joint venture, GreenLeaf Genetics LLC, will offer corn and soybean breeding material from both DuPont and Syngenta. It will also facilitate the licensing of biotech traits by both companies. While Syngenta originally launched GreenLeaf Genetics as a traits and genetics licensing business in 2004, DuPont will, for the first time, provide other seed companies targeted access to the Pioneer plant genetics library.

GreenLeaf Genetics will be based in Omaha, Nebraska, and led by Ron Wulfkuhle, the current head of Syngenta's GreenLeaf Genetics business. "We are ready to coordinate access to all the inbred lines, hybrids and traits needed for customers to feed their own breeding programs," Wulfkuhle said.

This is the second business agreement announced this year between Syngenta and DuPont agriculture businesses. In February, the two companies announced an agreement that gave Syngenta an exclusive worldwide license to develop DuPont's insecticide Rynaxypyr in mixtures with its own insect control products, and DuPont Crop Protection acquired worldwide rights to Syngenta's strobilurin fungicide picoxystrobin, sold as Acanto, including access to companion products used in mixtures.

DuPont and Syngenta today announced in the formation of a joint venture. Syngenta Seeds, Inc., and DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., will form the seed industry's first 50/50 joint venture to out-license genetics to U.S. and Canadian seed companies, with the potential to expand worldwide.